104 THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 



fifteen hands two inches high, with long shoulders and 

 quarters, and short back, standing over a great deal of 

 ground, upon short and large legs ; wanting nothing in 

 his mouth except a plain snaffle bit, but requiring spurs 

 in his sides over almost every yard that he went ; would 

 leap timber, either flying or standing, according to his 

 rider's pleasure ; was one of the best creepers in the world, 

 consequently, seldom got into scrapes ; and wanted no- 

 thing but a turn more speed to make him one of the best 

 hunters in the world. He was, however, as stout as steel 

 and no small recommendation to an Oxford man's horse 

 he could " come again," as the grooms say, very quickly, 

 after a hard run, and was good, on the average of sport, 

 for four days in a fortnight ; at all events, for three. 



Topthorn, his other horse, was an animal of a different 

 description. In the first place, he was better bred ; and, 

 in the next, in a form altogether different to Rupert. 

 He was what is called an " up-standing horse," nearly 

 sixteen hands high ; not large-bodied, although an ex- 

 cellent feeder, and with very good legs. As a fencer, he 

 was quite out of the common way, both at height and 

 width, although there was one imperfection in his fencing, 

 from which he derived his name ; and here he was the 

 very reverse of Rupert. He was not only not a creeper 

 much less a standing leaper but so far from leaping 

 into a fence, as every hunter ought occasionally to do, 

 when required, he could scarcely be made to go near 

 enough to his fences before he rose at them, so great was 

 his dislike to feel a thorn or brier about his legs. His 

 pace was also far better than Rupert's good enough, 

 indeed, for any country and any hounds ; he was capital 

 at both timber and water, and, barring the imperfection 

 which gave him his name, one of the most accomplished 

 hunters of his day. This, indeed, may be inferred from 

 the following rather uncommon fact : A nobleman, 

 residing in Oxfordshire, but then hunting in Leicester- 

 shire, offered him 400 guineas for Topthorn. His answer 

 was laconic, but creditable to him, and may be said to 

 have " given token of a goodly day to-morrow." 



" I shall not take 400 guineas for my horse," said this 

 promising young sportsman. " I am not in debt ; and I 

 see no reason why I should not ride a good horse with 

 hounds, as well as his lordship." 



As may naturally be supposed, Hargrave was not only 



